Maulana Tauqeer Raza Taken Into Police Custody While Going To Violence-Hit Sambhal

Islamic religious leader Maulana Tauqeer Raza was detained by police while en route to violence-hit areas of Sambhal. He accused the central government of conspiring against Muslims.

Islamic religious leader Maulana Tauqeer Raza was taken into police custody on Friday while going to the violence-hit areas of Sambhal. The Ittehad-e-Millat Council chief left for Sambhal after offering Friday prayers in Bareilly. Police stopped him in CB Ganj and took him into custody as Maulana Tauqeer Raza was adamant about going to Sambhal.

Earlier in Bareilly, Maulana Tauqeer said that Muslims are being crushed in the fight between Lucknow and Delhi. In fact, whatever is happening in Uttar Pradesh is happening at the behest of Delhi. He accused the central government of conspiring against Muslims, stated local media reports.

Police force has been deployed on the roads leading to Sambhal. On Thursday, Tauqeer Raza during a press conference at his residence in Bareilly said that after offering Friday prayers in the city, he would meet the injured victims and the families of the deceased in Sambhal along with his colleagues.

Tauqeer Raza also referred to the people killed in the violence as "martyrs". "Delhi wants to remove the CM here. That is why Muslims are being made to fight... Orders of the Supreme Court are welcome," he said. The Supreme Court on Friday stayed proceedings in the Sambhal's Shahi Jama Masjid case until the mosque committee approached the high court.

Sambhal Clashes: Police Action Against 28

The police have arrested 28 accused in the Sambhal violence case so far. Each accused is being identified on the basis of CCTV footage and viral videos. On Wednesday, police released posters of 45 alleged rioters on the basis of footage of the incident. The names and addresses of many of the riot accused have also been made public. Police said that the rioters will be made to pay for the losses incurred in the violence. 

There was a huge uproar during the survey of Shahi Jama Masjid located in Sambhal district on Sunday. During this, some anti-social elements pelted stones at the police and the police had to use tear gas to control the situation. The situation worsened during the survey of Jama Masjid as the violence spread.